Re-exploring Key West

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Photos from Library Show







The library show was a great success and I am adding some candid shots of some attendees. It was great fun to share my minis and maybe might have made a convert or two.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Antique Shop







I got my antique shop. As many of you know, I have been preparing for the Mini Show Exhibit at the Florida Keys Community College Library; so I wanted to finish this newest mini scene for that show. It is nice to get some of these items out of boxes and on display.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Sweet Shop











Finally got my sweet shop finished. Over the years, I have participated in a lot of swaps related to sweets and I have filled this little shop to the brim. The pretty little customer could resist all the pies and cakes for an all day lollipop. I don't think I could have done so well. The wallpaper is my own design. I did a collage of lots and lots of signs and pictures. Enjoy.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Pet Shop







I decided that I had enough things for a pet shop. In fact, I had too much and couldn't use everything. It is loaded with dogs and a few cats and stuff for each. It was great fun.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Cookbook Challenge

An Internet Miniature Group called Miniature Collectors sponsored a cookbook challenge. I was intrigued by the challenge and decided to use a page from Susan Branch's cookbook as my inspiration. Altho I didn't win the competition, I did finish the project and I am delighted to have had an opportunity to try my hand in the competition.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Explorer's Den


I've been wanting to do a den for a number of years. After participating in 3 explorer's swaps, father's day, items for dad, den etc. I figured it was finally time. I have one of my favorite pieces, a roll-top desk and moire chair in this piece. It also has lots of trinkets he has picked up on his expirations. Lots of items in this scene. Note the masks and the items he is packing up in his trunk for his next adventure.




Beach Cottage














This is my latest doll house. It is the Buttercup and very small, but made a quaint beach cottage. Still a few more items needed: more dishes in the china cabinet, a sign directing foot traffic to the beach, a mail box and a few more goodies. It was great fun to do.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Latest kits



Recently I have been on a campaign to finish all my unfinished mini kits. You can see those in previous posts. My latest projects were a little table and two benches. Don't know where I will use these just yet, but expect a nice picnic layout to be on top of the table. The little doll kit was a survivor of Hurricane Wilma. All the pieces were wet. Everything was washed. The directions were misplaced and finally surfaced. I contacted several doll makers but no one knew who created this kit. It was Darlene Mobley. In finishing the doll, I didn't have a picture and took a few poetic licenses, such as no pig tales, but rather curly blond hair, but I am very happy with how she turned out.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Pantry - Food, Food, Food







I have acquired so many food items and have participated in several swaps that were filled grocery bags that I just had to make a pantry. Top is shelves with individual items on it and the bottom is my latest trip to the grocery. Happy eating!

Garden in a Jar
















I found this wonderful square jar and decided it was a wonderful place for a small garden. It has lots of gardening supplies, plus a table and a chair. Pictures are of each side plus one of the whole jar. The top has 3 empty seed packets.

More Kits




Hopefully I am getting towards the end of my kits. The largest box is a train box (no train inside tho); smaller is rock collection with 3 small rocks mounted on a clear sheet of plastic next to it. A small doll, a small sand castle and another candy box.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Kits, Kits, Kits




I have always had quite a stash, but lately the unfinished kits have been making me crazy. To remedy that condition, I have been finishing them. It's amazing how much easier they are when you are doing them during the day, rather than at night after a full day's work. Retirement is wonderful. Completed was rocker and footstool; 144 size doll house, hand push lawnmower, box of seedlings, a geranium and a hyacinth, a heart shaped box of candy, 3 hat boxes and one little Halloween doll. The chocolates were a kit done by Vickie Johnson, the doll was Dolls by Darlene and the hat boxes are Anne Geddes. Some kits, I've had for years and am finally getting around to them.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

d. Anne Ruff Quarter Inch miniatures




I'm still in the mode of finishing up unfinished projects. I bought a kit - at least 10 years ago - of quarter inch miniature furniture by d.Anne Ruff. After pulling it out numerous times and getting overwhelmed with the number of pieces, I finally decided to finish it or throw it out. Well, frugal little me, I finished it. Not perfect construction, but pretty good. It is setting on a cutting mat of one inch squares. You can see how small the pieces are. I can set the entire room in a 4 x 6 inch area. I am thinking of doing a 'penthouse' layout for these pieces.


Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Another hobby/collectible Political Buttons







My poor political button collection has been residing in plastic bags for more years than I can remember. Decided they were too nice to ignore. After sorting, cleaning, making frames to hold them, they are out where I can enjoy them. Just a little break from minis. The Coxsure is one of the oldest buttons that I have. It was for James Cox who ran as a Democrat in 1920.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Miniature Layette Scene




In 2003, I went to the Ft. Lauderdale Miniature Show (Tom Bishop's show) and saw a vendor Pat Melvin. She had conducted a workshop on this layette. I had been unable to attend the workshop and decided to purchase the kit. Well, the box was done almost immediately. Today, I finished the other pieces. It wasn't difficult, just pretty time consuming. All in all, I am pleased with how it turned out. I added a crocheted jumper and a pink blanket from my stash. This will be the centerpiece for the nursery scene I am planning.






Saturday, June 14, 2008

Fireworks Stand in Miniature







With today being Flag Day, I thought it was time to finish up a very old project. I got the stand in a contest years and years ago. I have been collecting other patriotic things and with a recent swap theme of '4th of July' on Swap Shop Miniature Group, I had plenty to get this project complete. Enjoy.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Laundry Room in Miniature





I have completed my laundry room. It is situated in a Wisk bottle. I have washer, dryer, ironing board, iron, basket with dirty clothes, folded towels, wall rack with hanger and shirt on it. I have used a little light kit that runs on 2 AA batteries to light it. I really enjoyed doing it. Enjoy.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Quarter inch scale house






I have had the basic shape of his house for years but just never found time to work on it. I decided I either needed to finish it or throw it out. Well, finishing it won. It still is not quite done, there is a small plastic bag of the quarter inch scale items I made that seem to be hiding from me. I will post more pictures when I find the other items.